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THE STORY OF 
THE LOST DOLL 



















































































































































f 


THE STORY OF 
THE LOST DOLL 


By 

JOSEPHINE SCRIBNER GATES 

Author of 

THE STORY OF LIVE DOLLS 
MORE ABOUT LIVE DOLLS 


Illuftrated by 

VIRGINIA KEEP 


INDIANAPOLIS 

THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 

r\ , 



Copyright 


I 9°5 

The Bobbs-Merrill Company 
September 


■ .G-zz, 




-fWE LIBRARY OF j) 
CONGRESS. 

Two Cob'** I 


OCT, 0 1905 

000Vi‘<E ht 

n./<tos 

CLASS a. JUfe. »»> 

/ A.g^9L 

, ;<v. ' 


f 



PRESS OF 

BRAUNWORTH & CO- 
BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS 
BROOKLYN. N. Y. 


DEDICATED 



To the doll that was lost 


To little Mary who owned the doll that 
was lost 




To Dot and Nickie who took their 
dolls to dine with the doll that 
was lost 




And especially to Aunt Agnes , whose 
beautiful locks adorned the head of 
the doll that was lost , and who fur- 
nished the key to this story J. S. G. 






ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Alice and Nannie and the wonderful 

dolls. See page 109 Frontispiece 

“ Shelves full of the most beautiful dolls” 6 

That wondrous hair! It fell in curls far below 

her waist 1 4 

“When Rosabell comes home she will be 

surprised” 22 

“She isn’t very pretty, but I love her” 42 

He even held the curl up as close to her head 

as he dared 62 

She sat down with the curl in her hand 72 

Wherever he found a blemish on Rosabell, 
the new doll received one in exactly 
the same spot 88 

The dolls were brought out and placed in 

chairs twined with smilax and roses 92 

“They are exactly alike!” 104 



THE STORY OF 
THE LOST DOLL 












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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H ERE’S your dough, Miss Alice! Make 
your pie, and I’ll bake it in time for 
your tea-party,” said old black Dinah, tossing 
out a ball of paste from the doorway. 

Alice caught it, and with cries of joy three 
other little girls gathered about her to watch 
the delightful proceeding. She laid the dough 
upon a large flat stone, and patted and 
pounded it into shape. 

“What are you going to put in it?” 
asked one. 


THE STORY OF 


Alice paused. “I don’t know; what shall 
we?” — and they looked about the yard in 
search of something that would make a 
good pie. 

Seeing nothing suitable, they turned to a 
little table spread for a meal. Before it were 
seated four dolls, patiently awaiting the feast. 
In front of each doll was a plate, upon which 
lay a few berries and an oyster cracker. In 
the middle of the table was a tiny sugar-bowl, 
and if you had peeped into it you would have 
found a square lump of sugar all alone in its 
glory. You would also have noticed a small 
teapot filled with water, and a tiny pitcher 
with milk. Evidently they were to have a real 
party with cambric tea. 

“Let’s take the berries and sugar,” pro- 
posed Alice. 

“Oh, no!” chorused the others, “there 
wouldn’t be anything left.” 

i 


THE LOST DOLL 


“Well, then, let’s take two berries from each 
plate — that will leave three apiece — and break 
up the sugar.” They all agreed, and Alice, 
apologizing to the dolls, removed this portion 
of their meal. 

She put the sugar on the sidewalk, and, 
with her little heel, quickly ground it into a 
fine powder, which she gathered up, not 
minding its changed color. 

After placing the crust in a scalloped pan, 
she gently laid the berries in their downy 
bed, sprinkled them with sugar and a few 
drops of water from the teapot, then covered 
them over with the white blanket, which 
wasn’t really very white by this time, and 
tucked it in at the edges as she had seen 
Dinah do. The girls looked on admiringly, 
and they drew a sigh of satisfaction when she 
ran into the kitchen to put it in the oven. 

“Now tell us again about your doll while 


3 


THE STORY OF 


we wait for the pie to bake,” cried one with 
enthusiasm after Alice returned. Then they all 

down on the grass to lis— 
n to the oft-told tale of 

X 


have told it so many 
times I should think you would be tired of 
it,” said Alice; and seating herself in front 
of her audience she began in her clear 
sweet voice: 

“Well, you know I was awful sick one 
summer and mama was worried about me; 
she was afraid I was going to have ’sumption 
of the testaments, or something, and the doc- 
tor said I must go to Europe. 


the wonderful 
Paris doll, who 
sat up so straight 
at the table in the 
place of honor. 

“All right; but I 



4 


THE LOST DOLL 


“He wrote on a paper just what I could 
eat, and I couldn’t eat anything, ’cept just 
what it said, and it said nothing good. Just 
things that I hated — gruel and broth and eggs. 
I don’t like eggs ’cept when they are turned 
on their stomachs, but of course I couldn’t 
have them that way. They had to be boiled 
and all watery and horrid! Mama said if I 
would be good and eat just what the paper 
told, when I got to Paris she would buy me 
any doll I wanted in the whole city. And I 
was good, but it was awful hard! I had to 
see them eating everything I wanted so bad. 
One day I asked mama for the stem to her 
pear to suck. She gave it to me, but I was 
sorry I asked her, because I saw tears in her 
eyes, and papa’s, too, when I asked him for 
his peach-stone. I didn’t suppose they would 
care so much about giving them away; 
’twasn’t half so much to give as the core of 


5 


THE STORY OF 



an apple, and I never even asked for that; but 
I wouldn’t ask them for anything more; they 
seemed to want everything so bad themselves. 
The only thing I 
could have that 
I liked was ice- 
cream, and I did 
eat lots of 
that. 


“Well, by 
and by we got 
to Paris!” Here the girls leaned 
forward in joyful anticipation of 
their favorite part of the story. 

“I was better, and one day we started for 
the doll store. You just ought to have seen 


6 







































































































































































. 


































































J 






























































































































































































































THE LOST DOLL 


’em. Windows and shelves full of the most 
beautiful dolls, all dressed in different colors. 

“I couldn’t tell which to take. First I 
wanted one, and then another. I looked at 
them all, over and over again.” Here Alice 
paused to breathe, and the girls clasped their 
hands at this rapturous picture. 

“At last I saw this one,” she continued 
complacently. 

“But how did you know you wanted her?” 
chorused the girls. 

“Oh, she looked at me so! She looked at 
me as though she wanted me to take her so 
bad,” Alice answered. “I just played it was 
a ’sylum and they were all orphans waiting 
for a mama to come and take them away; 
and she seemed to want one worser than the 
others. And then she had on such cunning 
kid gloves and a beautiful chiffon hat with 
ostrich plumes waving about, and a lovely 


7 


THE STORY OF 


lace dress over pink. I just had to take her, 
so mama paid for her and we came away.” 

“How much did she cost?” 

“Well, she cost eleven dollars, and mama 
said it was ’stravagant, but I was so good, 
you know, and she had promised, so of course 
I had to have her, and that is all. Isn’t she 
lovely?” — and she caught her up in her arms 
and held her close for a moment. 

No wonder she loved her. She was a 
beauty, with great blue eyes and red cheeks 
and such a sweet mouth, and the 
expression on her face was just as 
Alice had said, — she did look as 
if she wanted to be loved and 
petted so badly. 

“And just see her hair! ” cried 
Alice. “No one ever saw such 
hair on a doll.” 

“Tell about the hair, — 



8 


THE LOST DOLL 



you forgot that,” coaxed the girls, who would 
not be denied any of the well-known details. 

“Oh, yes! Well, when I 
came home and showed her to 
Aunt Agnes, she loved her, too. 
but her hair had 
grown kind of mussy 
by that time, and 
she said, ‘I know 
the very thing: 


such a doll deserves better hair.’ And what 
do you think? She had had a fever, and her 
lovely hair had to be all cut off, and she took 


9 


THE LOST DOLL 


it and had it made into a wig for this doll. 
Just see how long it is!” 

And so it was. Not even a Sutherland sis- 
ter could boast of such hair. It was like bur- 
nished gold, and fell in a wavy mass to the 
ends, where it curled so beautifully that Alice 
never tired of brushing and twisting it about 
her finger, and doing it up in various styles. 
As she talked she coiled it in a knot and 
fastened it with some tiny hair-pins, which 
she brought from the depths of her pocket. 

“Here’s your pie,” called Dinah. 

At this welcome news they all flew to the 
table. The pie was placed in the middle; but 
as they were about to serve the meal to the 
patient dolls, a hand-organ was heard com- 
ing down the street. 

With shouts of delight they ran out of the 
gate, leaving the poor hungry dolls alone. 


IO 



CHAPTER II 


LAS ! Alas ! Why did Alice leave the 
gate open ? 

They were scarcely out of sight when 
along came a large and beautiful dog, which 
trotted boldly into the yard and immediately 
spied the table. 

Tables all set mean food to dogs, and this 
one sniffed about suspiciously, but, not find- 
ing anything to his taste, turned his attention 
to the occupants of the chairs. 

They say that dogs are almost human, 
and this one certainly seemed to be. His lit- 
tle mistress lived in an attic alone, and spent 
most of her time on a hard bed; and he had 


1 1 


THE STORY OF 


seen her, day after day, brooding over a mis- 
erable old doll, which she herself had made 
out of an old pillow-case 
stuffed with rags. Ithad corn- 
silk hair and a face marked 
with charcoal, and an old 
piece of a shawl about it. 
Here were four dolls, and 
the largest had most 
beautiful eyes and real 
hair. This must be what 
his little mistress craved, and why not take 
it to her? Happy thought! He seized the 
doll with his teeth and trotted away, sure 
of a warm welcome. 

Miss Dolly, whose name was Rosabell, 
never had had such a strange journey as this, 
but as she was held up high and dry and car- 
ried along gently, she quietly submitted, 
especially as she could not help herself. 



12 



THE LOST DOLL 


Away they went, up one street and down 
another. At last they climbed a long stair- 
way and paused before a half-open door. 
The dog pushed it open and trotted bravely 
in and up to a bed, upon which lay a little 
girl. 

“Why, Jack,” she cried in rapturous tones, 
“where did you get her?” Jack dropped 
the doll on the bed and walked about the 
room, feeling quite proud of himself and as- 
sured, as he heard her tones of delight, that 
he had done her a good turn. 

“Oh, you darling! you beautiful thing!” 
she exclaimed, turning her over and over, 
examining her face very closely, her clothes, 
and finally her hair. That wondrous hair! 
She removed the pins, and, as it fell in curls 
far below her waist, she fairly wept for joy. 

Suddenly she cried: “Where did you get 
her, Jack?” then anxiously: “You naughty 

13 


THE STORY OF 


dog, you didn’t steal her, did you?” Jack’s 
big brown eyes looked so honestly into hers, 
and he wagged his tail so emphatically, that 
she scorned to believe he would do such 
a thing. He jumped on the bed and she 
hugged and kissed him, and then sank back/ 
clasping the doll to her bosom and crooning 
over it until she fell asleep. 

Poor child, she was worse than an orphan. 
She had a drunken father who did nothing 
for her, and, had it not been for the kind 
people among whom she lived, would have 
fared poorly. They brought her food and 
bathed and tidied her as best they could. 
They were all hard-working people, but she 
was the pet of the tenement, and each tried 
to do his share toward keeping her comfort- 
able. 

Her father was not unkind; he loved her, 
but loved his bottle better. He was seldom 
14 





Page ij 


That wondrous hair ! It fell in curls far below her waist 









THE LOST DOLL 


at home, except when he came to sleep off a 
drunken stupor. 

She was a dear little thing, and made a 
pathetic picture as she lay asleep with the 
doll’s face pressed against her own. 

Here we shall leave her and return to 
Alice, who, with her companions, ran after a 
dog-and-monkey show for some distance. 
Then they concluded to retrace their steps 
and continue their interrupted feast. 

They danced into the yard 
and up to the table. 

“Now you poor little dol- 
lies shall have your party, 
and we won’t leave 
you any more,” said 
Alice. Seeing the 1 
empty chair, she cried' “Why, 
where’s Rosabell? What has become of her?” 

The others echoed the question, and they 



*5 


THE STORY OF 


decided at once that she had been taken in 
by Dinah. 

Alice went to get her. Dinah said she 
had not seen her, and Alice’s tears began to 
fall thick and fast. They all looked very 
serious when they realized the dreadful truth. 

“Dinah, aren’t you fooling me?” Alice 
sobbed. , 

“’Deed I ain’t, honey,” said Dinah, “I 
ain’t seen her since you went away.” 

Alice ran weeping to mama, followed by 
her three little friends, clasping their dolls in 
their arms and filled with grief over such a 
sorrow as this. 

Who took it, and why were their dolls 
left? Mama questioned them, and they went 
to search the yard to see if any trace of her 
could be found. Of course we know that 
their efforts were fruitless, as Rosabell was, 
by this time, in her new home. 

j6 


THE LOST DOLL 


When papa came, the sad story was re- 
peated to him. He immediately telephoned 
for detectives and sent advertisements to all 
the papers. 

Every one who knew Alice knew how 
much she loved that doll, and it must be 
found. The poor child was inconsolable. 
Although she had any number of other dolls, 
Rosabell was the only one now that could 
comfort her. She 
was put to bed 
at last, tired 
out with 
weeping, and all 
her friends hoped 
that the morrow 
would bring some 
news, to make 
the world happier for poor Alice, or that 
Rosabell herself would appear on the scene. 





17 





beloved doll was gone, no one knew where ? 

Papa had a crier walk the streets as they 
did when children were lost, crying: “Lost 
doll ! Lost doll ! Blue eyes ! Red cheeks ! 
Long curly hair! Pink dress! ” while he rang 
a bell so hard that people ran out of their 
houses to learn what had happened; but as 
he did not go near Rosabell’s new home, it 
amounted to nothing. 

Alice seemed feverish and felt so b&d that 
mama at last sent for the doctor. 

He was a kind, bluff old man, and Alice 
held a very dear place in his heart; for he 
18 


THE LOST DOLL 


had seen her grow up from a tiny pink bun- 
dle to this great girl of nine years. 

He came at once, and seemed very much 
disturbed when he heard the cause of her ill- 
ness, but said cheerfully: “Never mind, little 
one, I will find that doll myself, I know I 
can. I never fail in anything I undertake.” 
He mixed some quieting medicine and went 
below, where he talked the matter over with 
papa, who anxiously asked what he thought 
of her. 

“She isn’t very sick yet, but she may be 
if we don’t find that doll. I should buy her 
another like it,” the doctor advised. 

“Impossible! It is a Paris doll, and while 
we may match that, we never could dupli- 
cate the hair, and that is the chief charm. It 
is beautiful; real hair given to her by a very 
dear friend of the family,” — and papa walked 
the floor nervously. 


19 


THE STORY OF 


“Well,” said the doctor, “we must get 
that one or another. Can’t afford to have 
that child sick over such a trifle,” — and he 
walked to and fro also. After talking the 
matter over, he went away to attend his 
other patients, but his head was so full of 
doll-babies and curly hair that he found it a 
difficult matter to keep his mind on ipecac 
and quinine. 

Day after day passed. Alice was up and 
about, but she was very listless and miserable. 
The door-bell rang occasionally, and each 
time Dinah hopefully responded. Still no 
good news came. Many dolls were brought, 
at which Dinah tossed her head with a scorn- 
ful sniff", saying that Miss Alice would never 
lose a wink of sleep over any one of them. 
At last, papa brought home a magnificent 
doll that really looked like Rosabell, with 
the exception of the hair. Alice brightened 


20 


THE LOST DOLL 


up for a moment, but when she saw the 
hair she shook her head ; she did not want her. 

“ But, darling, she is a beauty ! ” 

“Yes, papa, I know it, but she isn’t mine.” 

“She is yours; I bought her for you.” 

“I am sorry, papa, but really, I don’t want 
her. It is Rosabell I want. If I was lost and 
they brought you another little girl, even if 
she was new and nicer than me, would you 
want her?” 

“She couldn’t be any nicer than you, and 
no little girl in all this world could take your 
place,” said papa. He kissed her, and sadly 
took the doll away. 

Hoping to turn 
Alice’s attention-^ 
from Rosabell, 
mama brought out 
some silks and bright ribbons and laces. Then 
she brought in all the other dolls, saying: 



21 


THE STORY OF 



“Now, let’s dress these babies, so when Rosa- 
bell comes home she will be surprised to see 
how lovely they look.” 

Alice was interested for a while, as mama 
fashioned the dainty little gowns, bonnets, 
aprons, and all sorts of pretty things that 
children love. She soon tired, 
however, as they heard noth- 
ing of the lost doll, 
and she feared that 
Rosabell would 
never come to 
see them. If 
she didn’t, 
what did she care 
for these things ? 

They played games, 
blew bubbles, drew pic- 
tures, and did many things to help them forget 
their trouble, but all to no purpose. The 


22 



“When Rosabell comes home she will be surprised” Page 2 j 




4 




I 






THE LOST DOLL 


child soon tired of everything and cared for 
nothing but to listen for the door-bell, which 
seemed never to ring for her. 

The doctor came in each day and tried in 
various ways to cheer her up, but all she said 
was: “Have you brought my doll? You said 
you would! ” 

“But you know it takes time to find such 
a doll as she is. I could find a little common 
doll easily enough. I am spending all my 
spare time looking for her, and I am sure I 
shall find her, if she is anywhere in the city,” 
the good doctor told his little patient. 

One evening, at the usual question, he 
took her little hands in his, and said tenderly: 
“Now, Alice, listen: I intend to find that 
doll. Won’t you try to make up your mind 
that she is all right, and will be here soon? 
Papa and mama are so worried about you 
that they will be sick, I fear.” 


23 


THE STORY OF 


“Oh, no, not about me,” Alice answered, 
“it is because Rosabell is lost. The tears 
come into mama’s eyes every time I speak of 
her. It isn’t about me at all. Mama loves 
her just as I do.” 

“Yes, but if you felt better mama would 
be happy again. Now, please try to believe 
that you will soon have her, and then you 
will be better, and papa and mama will be 
happy, and so shall I. I haven’t any little 
girl but you, and I can’t tell you how dis- 
tressed I am about you. Come, cheer up! 
Let mama see your bright happy smile once 
more, and let us all feel sure that before long 
Rosabell will be sitting here in her little 
chair, staring at you as she used to.” 

With this good advice he kissed her, and 
as he went out tears were in his own eyes; 
for he was a very tender-hearted man, and 
the picture he had left was a pathetic one. 


24 


THE LOST DOLL 


He jumped into his carriage and gave his 
horse a lash, as though it were the thief, and 
said in a desperate tone: “I must find that 
doll, and I will." 

For some reason Alice began 
to hope after the good old doc- 
tor left her. She closed her 
eyes for a moment, clasped 
her hands and breathed a 
little prayer to God to help 
the doctor find her doll and 
bring her back again. In a 
few moments mama came in with the tea- 
tray, and she was surprised to see a different 
look on Alice’s face. 

“ Why, what has the good doctor been 
saying to you, dearie ? Has he news of Rosa- 
bell ? ” mama exclaimed. 

“No, mama, but he seemed so sure he 
could find her, and I asked God to help 



*5 


THE STORY OF 


him, and now I know she is coming back,” — 
and Alice astonished her mama by actually 
eating the dainty meal she had prepared, in- 
stead of nibbling at it as usual. Mama ran 
to papa with tears rolling down her cheeks. 
He jumped up, crying: “Is she worse?” 

“No, dear, she is better, and I am so 
glad,” — and mama sat down by him and shed 
a few tears on his shoulder. 

These had been trying days for mama. 
Although she knew that Alice’s condition 
was not serious, it distressed her very much 
to see the child grieving for her doll. She 
knew her love for it was almost as deep and 
tender as that of a mother for her child, and 
its loss was to the little one a serious matter. 
Papa caressed and comforted her until she 
dried her eyes, and they went up stairs to- 
gether, looking brighter than they had since 
Rosabell was lost, strayed or stolen. 


2 6 


THE LOST DOLL 


“How happy you look ! ” Alice exclaimed, 
when they entered her room. 

“Yes,” they said, “we are happy because 
you are.” Then they talked of what they 
would do when Rosabell returned. Mama 
thought she would make her some new 
clothes, and papa decided he would go shop- 
ping for the young lady, and asked what he 
should buy. 

Alice proposed that he buy her a comb 
set with shiny stones, for her hair, and papa 
promised, ready to do anything if Alice 
would only be her little merry sunny self 
again. 

Mama turned out the light, for it was 
time the child was asleep. They kissed her 
good night, and she was soon in a quiet 
slumber, very different from the tossing, 
sleepless hours she had had for so many 
nights. When mama went to bed, she 


27 


THE LOST DOLL 

breathed a sigh of thankfulness and echoed 
Alice’s prayer: “Please bring Rosabell back 
again.” Strangely comforted, she, too, fell 
asleep, satisfied that all would be well again 
before very long. 


a8 





CHAPTER IV 


G OOD Doctor McDowell, upon whom 
these people were depending for future 
health and happiness, sat in his office late 
that night, pondering. Over what? Dan- 
gerous cases of illness? No, nothing more or 
less than the whereabouts of a doll, and not 
a sick one, either. He had left hope in 
Alice’s heart, and he felt he must do some- 
thing before his next visit. There was little 
sickness and many of his regular patients 
were away for the summer. Time hung 
heavy on his hands, so he concluded that 


29 



THE STORY OF 


he could not spend it in a better manner 
than in searching for the doll; but how 
should he go about it? He paced back and 
forth, muttering to himself. He took books 
from their shelves and eagerly read their 
pages, hoping to find some information con- 
cerning lost dolls, but, finding only advice 
regarding certain diseases, he closed the 
books with a bang, replaced them, and re- 
sumed his wild march around the room. At 
last he clasped his hands in despair, and 
growled: “Where on earth is that doll?” 

As if answering his question, the bell rang 
sharply, demanding an immediate response. 
He hurried to the door, half-expecting to see 
Rosabell herself there; but no, it was a mis- 
erable man, whose face showed plainly the 
marks of dissipation; it was drawn and hag- 
gard. In a trembling voice he asked if he 
could see the doctor. 


3 ° 


THE LOST DOLL 


“ What can I do for you ? I am the doc- 
tor,” he was told, as he clasped his hands. 

“Oh, sir, will you 
help my little daugh- 
ter? She is very ill, 
and has been so for 
some time.” 

“Why didn’t you 
come before, then ? ” 
“Because I am a 
wicked man. I am 
nothing but a drunkard, 
and I haven’t realized that 
she was so sick. I am hardly 
ever at home, sir, and when 
I am, I don’t know much. 
To-night I had no money, 
and 1 wanted a drink so bad that I went 
home to see if there was anything I could 
pawn. I looked about the room, but could 
3 1 



THE STORY OF 



see nothing; then I went to the bed where 
Nannie was sleeping. It is growing warm, 
and I thought she 
didn’t need so ; 
many covers, and 
I was just about to take 
one of the blankets, 

when I saw by her side a most beautiful doll.” 

The doctor bounded from his chair, and, 
clutching his visitor’s shoulder, held him in a 
firm grasp. “A doll! ” he cried, “what kind 
of doll ? ” 

The man, surprised at his excitement, re- 
plied : “Oh, a beautiful doll.” 

“ What kind of hair has it ? Quick, tell me.” 

“ Oh, its hair ! Why, that hair alone would 
bring five dollars.” 

“What color is it? Is it long?” 

“Yes, very long indeed, and such a glint 
on it ! It is like a mass of gold.” 


32 


THE LOST DOLL 


Here a sudden, terrible thought darted 
through the doctor’s brain, and he shook the 
poor man till his teeth chattered, as he 
shouted: “You didn’t sell it? Tell me you 
didn’t sell it ! If you did, I feel like breaking 
every bone in your body.” 

His unfortunate guest was too astonished 
to do more than shake his head and gasp, 
“No.” 

The doctor released him and sank back in 
his chair to recover from this brisk and 
unusual exercise. 

“Go on, man,” he commanded. “Why 
don’t you go on? What do you mean by 
stopping? Where is the doll now? Are you 
sure it is still at your house?” 

“Yes, thank God! I took it and was 
about to steal away with it, when something 
in Nannie’s face stopped me. I hadn’t had 
a good look at her in a long time, and I lit 


33 


THE STORY OF 


another lamp and found that she was very 
white and thin. I was so frightened I laid 
the doll back in her arms. 

“She opened her eyes, looked at it, then 
at me, and, smiling like an angel said: ‘That 
you, daddy? I thought some one took my 
doll. I am glad you are here, for you won’t 
let ’em, will you ? Promise me, daddy.’ 

“I promised and kissed her, and, when 
she fell asleep, hurried away for a doctor.” 

“ Why did you choose me ? ” 

“ I don’t know, sir. I walked the streets 
like one dazed till I saw your sign. She 
mustn’t die! She is all I’ve got. Can’t you save 
her ? I want a chance to be a better father.” 
“ Is she worse than usual ? ” 

“No, sir. She has been just like this for a 
long time, only I haven’t quite taken it in.” 

“Well, I’ll see what I can do, but, of 
course, she will have to give up the doll.” 


34 


THE LOST DOLL 


The man caught the doctor’s hand and 
begged: “Don’t take it! Please don’t take 
it! It will kill her. I remember for days 
back her joy over something, and I was too 
drunk to know what. It is the first bit of 
happiness she has ever had.” 

“ Oh, that is all right,” replied the doc- 
tor, “we will get her another.” 

“ Oh, no, another couldn’t take its place. 
It is so beautiful, and then, sir, you never 
could get a doll with such hair.” 

The doctor sprang to his feet. Here was 
a combination; two children sick over a 
mass of hair on a doll. 

“ But, my good man, that belongs to one 
of my little patients, who is mourning herself 
ill over its loss.” 

“ Is she rich ? ” 

“ Her father has a great deal of money.” 

“Then he can get her another.” 


35 


THE STORY OF 


“He can’t! Didn’t you just say yourself 
that no doll ever had such hair? It is that 
she loves as much as the doll. They have 
searched the town, and it can’t be found. 
How did Nannie get this doll? Tell me 
that.” 

“ I don’t know, sir. Somebody brought it 
to her.” 

“ Don’t you know anything ? Why have 
you been such a sot all these years? The 
idea, that you haven’t wits enough to tell 
how that little doll got into your house! A 
large reward has been offered for it; don’t 
you read the papers ? ” 

The man shook his head and replied: “No 
money to buy one, and if I had, do you 
think I would take the doll from Nannie 
now, just for the sake of a reward? It would 
kill her, I tell you, and you can’t have that 
doll!” 


36 


THE LOST DOLL 


He straightened up for the first time, 
clenched his fists and cast a savage glance at 
the doctor, who seemed about to spring at 
him again. It was a strange sight, — two great 
men quarreling over a doll-baby! 

Alice had any number of dolls, but she 
must have this one also. Poor little Nannie 
had nothing which she could call her own; 
lived in a miserable hovel; was sick, and had 
no kind mother hovering over her with lux- 
uries and dainty dishes; no money to buy 
her books and toys, with which Alice was 
almost smothered. 

But the doctor, in spite of all this, was 
sure in his own mind that the doll must be 
taken from her. He did not wish to anger 
the man by expressing this opinion aloud, so 
he sent him away, promising to call early in 
the morning, for it was then past mid- 
night. 


37 


THE LOST DOLL 


The man departed, and the doctor retired 
happier than he had been for many a day, 
determined that the morrow should see Alice 
in possession of her beloved Rosabell. 


3& 



T HE next morning, after making a few 
calls, the doctor turned his horse to- 
ward the address which the man had given 
him the night before. 

On the way he decided that he would 
have a sensible talk with Nannie, and surely 
he could convince her that Rosabell ought 
to be returned to her rightful owner. 

He would picture little Alice almost sick 
and very unhappy, because of the loss of the 
doll. Oh, yes! Nannie would at once give 
her up, if he would get her another; and, hav- 



39 


THE STORY OF 


ing reached this cheerful conclusion, he 
climbed the steep and dirty stairway. He 
rapped on the door and was admitted to the 

poor man’s 
home. It was 
a miserable 
place. Nan- 
nie’s father was 
there and led 
him to the bed 
where Nannie 
r with Alice’s 
doll by her side. 

It was Rosabell without a question. He 
had seen her too many times, and could not 
be mistaken. He turned from the doll to 
the sick child, and was shocked at her condi- 
tion. The sight of her, so pale and emaciated, 
filled him with compassion, and his great, 
tender heart yearned over her. He seated 



40 


THE LOST DOLL 


himself by her side and began to talk with 
her kindly. 

“How do you fee! this morning, Nannie? 
Your papa said you were not well, and 
wanted me to look in as I passed this way.” 

“Oh, I am better! See my doll, isn’t she 
lovely?” 

“Indeed, she is, but I want to see you first, 
my dear.” He asked many questions and 
examined her poor thin body from head to 
foot, listened to her little heart and lungs, 
and carefully felt of her spine. Her father 
stood by, trembling and very much frightened, 
while he awaited the doctor’s verdict. 

When he had finished, he turned again to 
Rosabell. “Where did you get this lovely 
doll?” he asked. 

“Oh, Jack brought her to me. Wasn’t he 

“I should say he was. But who is Jack?” 

4 1 


THE STORY OF 


“He is my dog, and he is the dearest dog 
that ever lived. He knew I wanted a doll, 
’cause this is the only doll I ever had,” — and 
she drew out from under the covers the 
wretched rag make-believe. “One day he 
came running in with this beauty,” Nannie 
went on. “H er hair was fastened in a knot. I 
was so glad of that, ’cause it might have been 
spoiled with him dragging her through the 
streets. I have kept her just as nice; there 
isn’t a spot on her. Take her and hold her a 
minute, and see how lovely she is. I’m never 
going to let anything happen to her, and I 
never want anything else in the world. 
When I go to Heaven I’ll take her with me. 
God will let me, I know, ’cause I love her 
so. Before I had to be in bed, I used to sit 
at the window and lean far out, and some- 
times I saw little girls walking with their 
dolls, and they were so pretty, and I wanted 


42 











THE LOST DOLL 


one of my very own so bad I made this little 
one. 

“She isn’t very pretty, but I loved her, 
and I love her yet. I keep her on this other 
side of me so she won’t feel bad and think I 
have forgotten her. Well, I prayed and 
prayed for a pretty doll, but I never dreamed 
God would send such a one as this.” Here 
she clasped Rosabell in her arms with a look 
of perfect joy and peace on her face, and the 
doctor and her father exchanged glances. 

“But where do you think she came from? 
Who do you suppose had her before you, 
and don’t you think some little girl is sad 
because her dolly is lost?” 

“Oh, no! Jack is too honest to steal. 
God gave her to him to bring to me, and I 
am so glad !” 

Here was his chance for the fine speech 
he had prepared about the little sick girl, 


43 


THE STORY OF 


who wa§ mourning for this very doll, but the 
doctor had no heart to say what he had 
intended. He felt sorry for Nannie. 

He rose, saying he was glad she was so 
happy, and, leaving some medicine for her, 
went down the stairway, followed by the 
anxious father, now longing to be better to 
his motherless child. 

“What do you think of her, Doctor?” he 
.asked, when they had reached the landing. 

As he spoke the doctor wiped his eyes, 
which seemed to be full of dust or some- 
thing, and said: “Think! I don’t think! I 
know she is simply a bundle of bones, and 
starving! She is weak for want of good 
nourishing food, and sick for lack of fresh 
air and sunshine. She needs a mother’s care, 
as every child does. Come with me and I 
will send her some proper food. You must 
begin with broth, and give her only a little 


44 


THE LOST DOLL 


at a time. When she is strong enough, we 
will take her out of that wretched hole. Go 
to work, man, and earn something, so you 
can take proper care of her.” 

The poor man burst into tears. “I 
would,” he said, “but no one will hire me; 
every one knows I drink, and I can’t stop.” 

“Nonsense! You can, and you must. 
Now see here: you come and work for me; 
look after my garden and help with the 
horses. I will treat you for that disease called 
drunkenness, — for disease it is. No need of any 
one’s being a drunkard nowadays, unless he 
wants to be.” 

“I’ll come, I swear I will, and do my 
best,” the man promised earnestly. 

They soon reached the doctor’s house, 
and he went to his good old housekeeper, 
Mrs. Gaylord, and obtained some beef-broth 
and other nourishing food. 


45 


THE STORY OF 


The doctor had many charity patients and 
was always prepared with jellies and all sorts 
of delicacies for the dainty appetites which 

the sick poor 
have, as well as 
the sick rich, 
and in which 
they are sel- 
dom able to 
indulge. 

Mr. Gray, 
for that was 
the poor man’s name, returned home with 
a happier heart, filled with good resolutions. 

“And now for Alice,” said the doctor to 
himself. “I can, at least, tell her that the 
doll is found; and then, what next?” 

Here was a conundrum too weighty for 
the doctor to solve, and he concluded to let 
matters take their own course. He might 
4 6 



THE LOST DOLL 


have to make up a story, and that would be 
a sad thing for one who had always prided 
himself upon his truthfulness. Little did he 
know into what he would be led. “Alas! 
What tangled webs we weave, when first we 
practise to deceive,” is just as true to-day as 
it was when, as children, we wrote it in our 
copy-books. 

Alice gave him a glad welcome, feeling 
sure that he brought some good j 
news. His whole appearance 3 

showed that before he spoke. 

“She’s found! Alice, 
she’s found!” he cried. 

Clapping her hands 
with delight, Alice ran to him, 
exclaiming: “Oh, I am so glad! so glad! 
Why didn’t you bring her in? I suppose you 
were afraid you might break her with your 
satchel, but papa will get her.” She threw 



47 


THE STORY OF 


her arms about his neck, kissing him over 
and over again. 

He lifted her to his knee and held her 
fast, when she tried to run away from him, 
saying: “Wait; sit here while I tell you 
about it.” 

He paused, wondering what he should say 
next. 

“But I want her!” cried Alice. “Can’t 
papa bring her in? You shouldn’t have left 
her in the carriage, some one might steal her 
again.” 

“She isn’t in the carriage,” answered the 
doctor. “I can’t get her yet, but this much 
I know, she is safe, and is being well cared 
for, and will be here as soon as I can possibly 
arrange it.” 

Just then papa and mama came in, and 
there was great rejoicing when they heard 
the good news. Alice began to put the dolls 

48 


THE LOST DOLL 


in order for the grand reception she wanted 
to give immediately upon Rosabell’s arrival. 
She also wanted to write some invitations to 
her little friends, that they might join with 
her in this joyful festival. 

The doctor went away, sorry that he could 
not feel so light-hearted as they seemed to 
be. Papa followed him to his carriage, thank- 
ing him repeatedly, and hoping that he would 
soon return, bringing Rosabell. He drove 
off with the words: “Oh, yes, certainly, I 
will bring her as soon as I possibly can.” To 
himself he said: “So far, so good, but how I 
am to get out of this, no one knows.” 


49 



CHAPTER VI 


T HE next day the doctor formed a 
a plan which would help him out for 
a short time. Anything would be welcome 
that would relieve the present condition of 
affairs. On the way 
to Nannie’s he 
bought a very 
lovely doll, 
which he intended giving to her. Then he 
meant to persuade her to let him have Rosa- 
bell for a certain length of time each day. 
5 ° 



THE LOST DOLL 


He couldn’t quite decide just what reason 
he would invent, but trusted to Providence 
to help him out. 

He found Nannie much better, and, when 
his visit was ended, unfolded his plan with 
fear and trembling. As he opened the 
package, he said: “I have another doll here, 
Nannie, and I want to give it to you and 
ask a favor at the same time. Would you 
lend that doll to me for a few days, just for 
a part of each day — say from the hour of my 
visit, which won’t be very early, until about 
six in the evening? I will bring her back 
then, and you will have two dolls all night 
and a part of the next day.” 

Nannie’s face clouded. “Why must you 
take her?” she asked, struggling to keep 
back the tears. 

“Well, I’m, I’m—” 

Nannie brightened up and exclaimed, as 
5 1 


THE STORY OF 


the doctor paused: “Oh, I know, you are 
going to surprise me, and have some clothes 
made for her.” 

Happy thought! Providence was going 
along with him, and he hastened to reply: 
“Yes, dear, I want to have an entire outfit 
made for her.” 

“Will it take long?” 

The doctor was about to say weeks and 
weeks, when she added: “’Cause if it would, 
I think I don’t want you to. I’d rather have 
the doll all the time.” 

“Oh, no,” was his instant response; “I 
can’t tell how long, but I shall know soon.” 

“Well, you may have her,” said Nannie, 
“but can’t you wait until to-morrow?” 

“The sooner I take her, the sooner you 
will have her again, and in the meantime, 
you will have the new one, you know.” 

“Yes, I know, but then I don’t care much 

5 2 


THE LOST DOLL 


for her: I never could care much for any 
other doll now, but I’ll pretend she is rich 
and the dressmaker sends a carriage for her 
every day, and I shall always send a note by 
her saying just what I want to have made 
that day. I will try to get along for a 
while,” — and she reluctantly placed Rosabell 
in his arms and bade her a fond farewell. 

He departed, feeling like a culprit, and 
hurried to Alice, who, of course, received 
him with delight. She looked the doll over 
anxiously, and, finding her in perfect condi- 
tion, covered her with kisses, thanking the 
doctor again and again. 

“I am so glad, so glad!” she sang, danc- 
ing about the room. 

The doctor’s heart was in his mouth, 
when he proceeded a second time to unfold 
his little plan. 

“Alice, would you be willing to let me 


53 


THE STORY OF 


have her for a few days, from six each even- 
ing until about ten the next morning?” 

Her gay dancing ceased, and she cried in 
dismay: “What for?” 

“Well, I thought, perhaps, you wouldn’t 
mind parting with her at supper-time, you 
go to bed so early, and then in the morning 
you could have her soon after breakfast. I 
know it is a great deal to ask when she has 
been gone for so long, but you will know 
she is safe, and I have a plan I want very 
much to carry out, and I can not, unless you 
will do this. I promise you that you won’t 
be sorry.” 

The clouds vanished. She resumed her 
dance, exclaiming: “Oh, you dear good man! 
I know ! You are going to take her to a dress- 
maker and have some clothes made for her. 
How lovely! Yes, you can have her. I have 
so many others, I don’t care. That is it, 


54 


THE LOST DOLL 


isn’t it?” And again the doctor had to tell 
a story, but as he left he vowed to himself 
that before long he would visit a dressmaker, 
for he would not have a lie on his conscience. 

So Rosabell had a lovely ride each morn- 
ing and evening, and at the end a warm 
welcome from her two little mothers. 

For a brief time the doctor’s mind was at 
rest, but, alas! this could not last for ever, 
and finally, when he began to notice a grow- 
ing uneasiness in each little heart, he felt 
that this part of the play was about over, and 
he must invent another act. 

One morning, when both Alice and Nan- 
nie had firmly declared that they did not 
want any more clothes and would rather 
have the doll, the doctor went home in such 
a disturbed state of mind he could not rest, 
especially as they also demanded the new 
wardrobe he had promised and never 


55 


THE STORY OF 


brought. He decided to visit a dressmaker 
who had once been his patient, and to order 
the garments, — a duty he had 
been trying every day to 
gain courage to perform. 
Unfortunately, this good 
man was very bashful and 
could not even ask his 
housekeeper’s help. 

After thinking it over, he 
decided that when he made 
his usual early visit to Alice 
he would ask permission to keep the doll, 
and then he would spend the morning look- 
ing for a new one like it. If he found one, 
it would settle the matter. He knew the 
town had already been searched, but he 
hoped he might, perhaps, find what he 
wanted in some shop that had been over- 
looked. He knew, too, what an obstacle the 
56 



THE LOST DOLL 


beautiful hair would be, but even this, he 
trusted, he would be able to overcome. 

Alice consented, as the doctor promised 
this should be the last time he would ever 
borrow Rosabell. He made his calls on his 
patients and then visited toy stores, feeling 
certain the result would untangle the snarl. 
He went from one store to another, only to 
be told that the doll could not be duplicated. 
At last, when he was almost discouraged, a 
clerk told him he believed he had a match 
for Rosabell. When the box was opened the 
doctor thought his troubles were over, for he 
saw the same little face smiling back at him. 
It was a twin sister to Rosabell, except the 
hair. 

“But I can’t give you that hair; no dolls 
have hair like that, and your doll didn’t have 
it to begin with,” the clerk explained. 

The doctor admitted that it did not, but 


57 


THE STORY OF 


insisted that he must have it, — anyway. 
Could the clerk suggest some plan? 

“Well, sir, you might go across the way to 
that hair store. You may possibly find it 
there, and if so, it will be an easy matter to 
put it on.” 

This was a plan the doctor had not 
thought of. He started, but stopped to ask 
if there were ladies at the counters. 

The clerk replied that there were, and 
the doctor took from his pocket a pair of 
scissors, and, snipping off a tiny curl, slipped 
it into his vest pocket.- He left the doll in 
the toy shop and darted across the street. 

“I want some hair-restorer,” he said in a 
gruff tone. While the clerk wrapped it up 
he felt for the change and accidentally^?) 
discovered the lock of hair. “Oh, by the way, 
madam, do you happen to have this exact 
shade of hair in stock?” he asked, in a voice 

58 


THE LOST DOLL 


which he tried in vain to make sound as though 
it were nothing unusual for him to go about 
matching switches. 

The woman glanced at it and shook her 
head. “That, sir, is a very 
rare shade, which you will 
have trouble to match.” 

He thanked her and re- 
turned to the doll store. 

“Keep those dolls, please, 
until I come back,” he said 
to the clerk; “I couldn’t 
match the hair, and will 
try at a few other places 
to see what I can do.” 

He could not keep on 
buying hair- restorers, and 
after purchasing the second 
bottle, he looked about for 
something else, feeling that he must have an- 



59 


THE STORY OF 


other errand. He would not ask for the hair 
at once, and soon his pockets were bulging 
with all sorts of articles for which he had no 
use. He finally had everything except the 
thing he was seeking, and was again growing 
discouraged. He hurried excitedly from one 
shop to another. It was nearly noon. What 
should he do? As he passed along, he found 
himself absently taking out the curl and com- 
paring it with the hair growing on the heads 
of the various ladies he passed. It was a rare 
shade, for he had seen any number of ladies 
— hundreds, it seemed to him — and not one 
had hair anything like it. 

Why had Aunt Agnes ever been born with 
such hair? Think of the trouble it was caus- 
ing! He hastened after a certain lady in 
front of him. He looked at her head sharply, 
and then at the curl in his hand. He cer- 
tainly was successful at last. Oh, joy! Oh, 
60 


THE LOST DOLL 


rapture! He felt like tossing his hat into the 
air and shouting: “Eureka! I have found it!” 
His troubles were ended. He crept stealthily 
up behind her and continued to make com- 
parisons. He even held the curl up as close 
to her head as he dared, unconscious of the 
fact that people were casting curious glances 
at him, and thought him some harmless 
lunatic out for an airing. Oblivious of every- 
thing, he followed her up one street and 
down another, trying in vain to think of 
some reason for addressing her. At last, as 
he saw that she was about to enter a house, 
he forget everything and cried in despair: 
“ Madam, excuse me, but where did you get 
your hair? ” 

She turned, and in frightened tones 
exclaimed: “What do you mean, sir, by 
insulting me? I shall have you arrested,” — 
and she started to run into the house. 

61 


THE STORY OF 


He caught her gown, crying: “I don’t 
mean to insult you! Please listen to me; I 
am in earnest. Look for yourself; isn’t your 
hair exactly like this?” — and he waved the 
curl before her eyes, as though that was 
sufficient evidence of his sincerity. She looked 
at it curiously and replied: “Well, if it is 
like mine, is that any reason for intimating 
that mine is false?” 

“No; but, madam, I have searched this 
town for hours for hair like this. It is very 
important, and I was growing discouraged 
when at last I saw yours, and I could not 
restrain myself. I have followed you for 
blocks. I forgot that it was an improper 
thing to do. All I realized was that at last I 
was successful, and that as you have hair such 
as I am seeking, you could tell me where 
you got it so I could get some like it. I will 
pay any sum for it; I simply must have it.” 


62 











He even held the curl up as close to her head as he dared Page 61 






























































































































































































































































































■* 












* 




















A 



























































































































































































































' 



































THE LOST DOLL 


At this the lady clasped her hands and 
beamed on him, exclaiming excitedly: “You 
can have mine! I will gladly sell it. I am 
very poor and have been looking in vain for 
work. My mother is ill, and we are really 
suffering for the necessaries of life. Oh, sir, 
will you take it? It is very long and curly.” 

He looked at her in amazement. “Sell 
your hair! Would you do that?” he asked. 

“Gladly, and thank you for taking it off 
my hands, or, rather, my head. I will go with 
you now to the nearest barber shop.” 

Her offer was accepted and they turned 
their steps toward the city. 

On the way she told the doctor of her sick 
mother, and he, becoming very much inter- 
ested, promised to call soon and do what he 
could for her. Was this the bashful man who 
would not face the dressmaker, and whose 
pockets were full of all sorts of things pur- 
63 


THE LOST DOLL 


chased in hair stores, that he might not be 
obliged to disclose the fact that he had come 
to buy a doll’s wig? 

Yes, here he was, walking along, holding 
an earnest conversation with a lady whom he 
had never seen before that day. When they 
halted at the barber’s he remained out- 
side, like a sentinel on guard, until she re- 
appeared and handed him the package. He 
gave her a generous sum of money and hur- 
riedly left her, after thanking her gratefully. 


64 


CHAPTER VII 


W ITH a glad heart he hastened back 
to the toy store with his treasure. 
He entered and handed the parcel to the 
astonished clerk, crying: “ Here it is; paste it 
on quick.” 

“Paste it on! Man, that’s impossible.” 
“Give me your mucilage then, and I will 
do it. I’m in a hurry.” And he scalped the 
new doll in the twinkling of an eye. Big Elk 
with his tomahawk could not have done a 


65 


THE STORY OF 


neater job. He uttered a joyful war-whoop 
and waved the yellow curls aloft, crying in 
relieved tones: “My troubles are ended. 
Hurry up! Trot out your glue.” 

“My dear sir,” the clerk said calmly, “that 
hair must be taken to a hair store and made 
into a wig to fit the doll. Just take it over 
the way and they will attend to it.” 

“Great heavens!” the doctor exclaimed. 
“Do you suppose I’m going over there with 
that doll and that switch? Here, you take 
it over.” 

“Can’t do it; every one’s gone to dinner 
and I’m alone.” 

“Well, I’ll stay.” 

“Oh! all right, just step around behind 
the counter, so if the boss goes by he’ll see 
some one is here.” 

The doctor obeyed, and, left alone, paced 
the floor impatiently. Here it was, noon, Alice 


66 




THE LOST DOLL 


was waiting for her doll, and he was delayed. 
Suddenly a lady’s voice startled him: “I want 
to buy a doll, and I’m in a great hurry.” 

What was he coming to? This bashful old 
doctor, stationed behind a counter in a toy 
store, forced to sell a doll, and to a lady at 
that! 



He 

took down 
one doll after 
another until he 
had a great pile 
of them on 
the coun- 
ter. 


He 
found him- 
self showing 

the advantages of this or that, when she inter- 


67 


THE STORY OF 


rupted him: “But I want golden hair. I must 
have golden hair.” 

“Oh, you do!” — and to himself he said: 
“So did I an hour ago! — Well, here is 
golden hair.” 

“But I must have brown eyes.” 

“Well, then, here is just the right combi- 
nation,” he cried triumphantly. “Golden 
hair and brown eyes, all for the small sum 
of three dollars.” 

He was flattering himself that he was mak- 
ing great strides in his new capacity as clerk, 
when she said in a disgusted tone: “But she 
isn’t pretty; I wouldn’t have her for a gift.” 

H e was about to inform her that he had 
no intention of making her a gift of any doll, 
when he saw the clerk returning, but with 
empty hands. 

“Where is the doll? ” he cried in frightened 
tones. “Don’t tell me they can’t fix it!” 

68 


THE LOST DOLL 


“They can, but all things take time. The 
wig will be ready to-morrow morning, and 
you must bring the other doll, so that they 
can see exactly how far down on the fore- 
head the hair should be placed. This is very 
important, in order to get the same expres- 
sion.” 

“I’d rather give five dollars than go over 
there with that doll,” the doctor replied. 

“I’ll do it for you, sir, if you’ll trust me.” 

The doctor thanked him and started for 
home. He left Rosabell with Alice, and 
apologized for being so late by telling her 
that the dressmaker had a dreadful time fit- 
ting a certain dress, and wound up by saying: 
“But you won’t be sorry when you see what 
she has made.” 

Then he went home, foot-sore and weary. 
Arriving there he threw himself upon a couch 
in his darkened study, intending to have a 

69 


THE STORY OF 


nap. While he lay there, the various occur- 
rences of the morning went spinning through 
his brain. A deep sigh of content escaped 
him, and he congratulated himself upon the 
results of his efforts. To-morrow he could 
give the children their dolls, and that would 
end the trouble. 

Just as he was drifting off into a peaceful 
slumber a dreadful thought struck him. He 
sprang to his feet, uttering wild exclamations 
of dismay. The new doll must be dressed 
like the old one, and he must make a visit 
to Betsy Buttons after all! Horrors! His 
unpleasant reflections were interrupted by the 
lunch-bell, and he hastened to the dining- 
room. Sickening thought! How could he 
eat with such a dismal prospect before him? 
He would ask his housekeeper to order the 
clothes. But no, she would laugh at him. 

He himself must beard the lioness in her 


70 


THE LOST DOLL 


den. As he nibbled at his food, he rehearsed 
the dialogue which he must hold with the 
pretty little seamstress. 

“Well, no use crossing the bridge till I 
come to it,” he said to himself, at the end of 
his meal. 

After he had gone, his housekeeper entered 
the dining-room, cleared the table, and swept 
away the crumbs. Suddenly she spied some- 
thing. What was that? A curl! Where did 
it come from ? She picked it up and took it 
to the window to examine it more closely. It 
was as soft as a baby’s, and what a beautiful 
color! 

The doctor must have dropped it! She sat 
down with the curl in her hand, overwhelmed 
at the possibilities the golden lock unfolded. 
At last she could understand his strange pre- 
occupation. He had been so absent-minded 
of late and away more than usual — he was 

71 


THE STORY OF 


in love, and with a chit of a girl ! — no person 
©f his own age had such hair as that. 

H ow could she bear to have a mistress 
over her, in the house where she had reigned 
alone in her glory for so many years? She 
had seen him grow to the age of fifty, from 
a young man just starting in to study medi- 
cine. She rose with a deep sigh, choking back 
the tears, and echoed her master’s sentiment: 
“No use crossing the bridge till I come to it.” 

She carefully placed the curl on his desk 
and laid the paper-weight over one end of 
it, where he would see it at once, and re- 
turned sadly to her work. 

That night was a restless one for the doc- 
tor, and the few hours in which he managed 
to lose himself where filled with visions of 
curly wigs, barber shops, and hair stores; 
numerous dolls danced about him holding 
high carnival, and Alice and Nannie appeared 


72 



She sat down with the curl in her hand 


Page Jl 










\ 



THE LOST DOLL 


in the background with reproachful faces, 
holding out their little hands in vain for the 
promised doll-clothes. 

He was glad when morning came, and, 
after a light breakfast, started out on his un- 
pleasant errand. When the two dolls were 
at last placed in his hands they looked so 
exactly alike he could not help rejoicing over 
the fact that so much was done and well 
done. 

And now for the little dressmaker; but 
where did she live? He remembered that 
her name was Betsy Buttons, because, at the 
time, he thought it singularly appropriate. 
He took out the little book in which he 
kept addresses. It was some years since he 
had been there, and she happened to be the 
only dressmaker to whom he had ever been 
called. 

Yes, here it was, 174 Prospect Avenue. 


73 


THE STORY OF 


He turned his horse in that direction. Arriv- 
ing at the house he thought it looked strangely 
familiar. He walked boldly up to the steps 
and rang the bell; the door opened. “Does 
Miss Betsy Buttons live here?” he asked, 
blushing like a school-boy; but as he looked 
into the face of the young woman who stood 
in the doorway, he grasped her hand with 
pleasure. 

It was his little friend of the day before, 
and he felt as though he had known her for 
years. She drew him in, telling him how glad 
she was that he had come. Her mother was 
worse and really needed medical attention. 
She thanked him over and over for fulfilling 
his promise so soon, and led him into her 
mother’s room. 

He quickly learned the cause of her ill- 
ness, which was not serious, and, after pre- 
paring medicine, started to go away. Betsys 


74 


THE LOST DOLL 


followed, and when they reached the hall, he 
abruptly asked if she remembered him. 

“Why, certainly. It was only yesterday 
you did me a great favor.” 

“ But I don’t mean that,” he replied hastily. 
“Years ago I was called to you. I believe 
you were then a dressmaker. Have you given 
that up ? ” 

“Oh, no, sir, I haven’t; but it has given me 
up. So many have gone into the business, 
and then the stores are flooded with shop 
goods, all of which has taken away my work.” 

He seated himself, saying: “Confession is 
good for the soul, and I am so burdened with 
perplexities I feel that it would be a relief 
to tell them to you, if you will permit me to 
trouble you.” Then he related the whole 
story of the lost doll and the two children, 
his deception, and, lastly, the position in 
which he now found himself, and wound up 


75 


THE STORY OF 


by begging her to take charge of the case, 
as he could go no further with it. He would pay 

her any amount 
if she would make 
those clothes. 

She took the new 
doll, exclaiming 
over its beauty, 
and promised to 
begin the work 
at once. She 
thought she 
surely could 
have her entirely 
dressed that same afternoon. He might come 
at five o’clock for her. He gave her money, 
bidding her make any purchases she saw fit. 
Shoes and stockings must be bought, of course, 
and some pretty bright goods of all colors, silks, 
satins and ribbons, fans, parasols; in fact, he 
76 



THE LOST DOLL 


told her to buy anything she chose, and not 
to mind the expense, as he wanted to do 



to make up for the dreadful part he had 
been obliged to play. He felt like embrac- 
ing her for being so willing to help him out 
of his trouble. What a sweet face she had, 
and how prettily her hair curled about her 
forehead! She looked like a child with the 
shiny rings dancing about her head and nes- 
tling behind her ears. 

She noticed his glances directed at her 
hair. She blushed, and her eyes filled as she 
stammered: “Please don’t look at it! I 


77 


THE STORY OF 


know it is horrid, but I had to do it; that 
money is the first we have had for a long 
time, and we were really so much in need.” 

He took her hand respectfully and held it 
in a close warm grasp. 

“I don’t think it is horrid at all,” he said. 
“Indeed, I consider it very becoming, and I 
honor and respect you more than you can 
ever know for the sacrifice you have made 
for your mother. And I can’t tell you how 
grateful I feel for what you have promised 
to do for me. I shall never forget it, and 
shall always stand ready to help you out of 
any trouble which may come to you in the 
future.” 

Taking Rosabell, with a hasty good-by he 
hurried away, fearful that he might do some- 
thing rash. This absent-minded old bachelor 
had met his fate at last, and had really and 
truly fallen in love with the gentle little 
78 


THE LOST DOLL 


woman, although he was not aware of his 
true feeling. Bless you, no ! He felt so thank- 
ful to her for helping him out of his predic- 
ament, and so sorry for her, he could have 
folded his great arms about her and kissed 
her tears away, without thinking for a mo- 
ment that he had done any wrong. 

As he drove away, meditating deeply over 
his visit, he was startled from his reverie by 
having his horse stop. Looking up, he dis- 
covered that he was in front of Nannie’s 
house. 

“Let me see! Whose turn is it to have 
the doll now? What time is it? Ten o’clock. 
Then it is Alice’s turn.” He frightened his 
poor old nag with the whip until the horse 
must have thought there was a serious case 
at each one of the houses he visited so regu- 
larly twice a day. 


79 


I m 

dL*»mjk 

^ .. _ _ , m| , ,. r ,.. i . | . i ._ rT 

CHAPTER VIII 

H E left Rosabell 
with Alice tell- 
ing her that she was to have her the next 
morning to keep for ever, and that the clothes 
would be ready soon. How glad he was that 
he could say it honestly! 

He hastened home and went at once to 
his study and seated himself at his desk, with 
visions of Miss Buttons’ curls dancing before 
his eyes. He sprang from his chair; there 
was one now! how did it get there? He 
took it in his hand, and, walking to the win- 
dow, held it to the light, watching it shimmer 








8o 


THE LOST DOLL 


and glint as he passed it through the sun’s 
rays. 

For the moment he had forgotten utterly 
the lock he had taken from the doll’s head 
the day before. Too much of importance 
had occurred since then for him to remember 
such a trivial thing. How beautiful it was! 
While he stood there admiring it in the sun- 
light, his worried housekeeper, passing the 
door, glanced in. Ah yes! it was true, for 
was he not gazing at it with a look of perfect 
joy on his face? She passed on, while he, with 
a heart as light as hers was heavy, placed the 
silken curl in his pocketbook and sat down 
to wonder how it came to be on his table. 

Suddenly it dawned upon him. He felt in 
his vest pocket — the doll’s curl was gone! He 
must have taken it out with other things, and 
forgotten to put it back. 

Well, it was exactly like hers, whatever had 
81 


THE STORY OF 


happened. He thanked his lucky stars that 
he had found it before the regular sweeping 
day; for he fancied that that was the only 
time his housekeeper ever visited his sanctum. 

How the hours dragged! It seemed like 
an eternity until five o’clock, but when it 
came it found him at Miss Buttons’ door 
promptly to the minute. 

She admitted him with a beaming face and 
produced the new doll, all dressed, ready for 
its owner. He expressed his gratitude, and 
remarked that he would leave it with Nan- 
nie on his way home, and that he was glad 
his part in this deceptive play was ended. 

“Yes, sir,” said Miss Buttons, “but if you 
will allow me to suggest, you will notice that 
these clothes are not made from fresh mate- 
rial. I used some that I had, purposely, and 
crumpled the garments a little to make them 
look like the others. When you get the other 


82 


THE LOST DOLL 


doll you must take them both home and see 
that they are exactly alike in every way.” 

“What do you mean?” he inquired. “They 
are alike.” 

“Yes, sir,” — she blushed deeply, but went 
bravely on to the end. “I mean that Alice’s 
doll is old, and the body is somewhat bat- 
tered, and if you don’t want them to know 
what you have done, you must remove their 
clothes and make the new body like the old 
one. Take a nutmeg grater and rub over 
the enamel on the new one in the same places 
where you find the enamel is off of the old, 
especially at the ends of the fingers and toes. 
Children have keen eyes, and, as a rule, know 
every mark on their dolls, and each mark 
renders them dearer to their little mothers.” 

He looked at her admiringly. “Well! well! 
who would ever have thought of that? I 
shouldn’t, I am sure, and I shall follow your 

83 


THE STORY OF 


advice. In the morning I shall leave each 
doll with its own little mother, and we shall 
all be happy once more. How soon can I 
have the remainder of the dresses, bonnets 
and fixin’s?” (He called them bunnets.) 

Miss Buttons smiled and replied: “To- 
morrow at this hour, when I shall have a few 
of the garments ready for each of the dolls.” 

He shook her warmly by the hand and left 
her with his old heart beating like a trip- 
hammer. He hurried home and smuggled 
the dolls into his operating-room. 

He ate a hasty dinner, but what he ate he 
could not have told half an hour after. He 
was soaring in the clouds, and in great haste 
to get at this last delicate operation. After 
dinner he informed Mrs. Gaylord that he had 
important work that evening and could see 
no one. He locked the study door, then the 
door into his operating-room; removed his 

84 


THE LOST DOLL 


coat and cuffs exactly as he did when he was 
preparing for a surgical case, and even started 
to get the chloroform. He laughed aloud as 
he realized what he had done from habit, 
and seated himself at the long leather table. 

He lifted one doll and looked it over. The 
first move in this game was to take off the 
clothes; but how was that to be done? He 
turned it over and his eyes brightened when 
he saw the buttons. Here was the solution. 
It took some time, but he finally succeeded 
in undressing both dolls. 

Ah! now he saw what she meant, and it 
was well she had told him or he would have 
been disgraced for ever. By the way, what 
did she tell him to use? Oh, yes, a nutmeg 
grater. That was in the kitchen. He unlocked 
the doors and listened. All was quiet. He 
slipped off his shoes, replaced them with a 
pair of felt slippers, and went stealthily out, 

85 


THE STORY OF 


feeling like a thief in his own house, to get 
the nutmeg grater. 

He reached the pantry safely; he knew 
what the grater- looked like, but where was 
it? He searched drawers and cupboards, and 
at last saw it before his eyes hanging on the 
wall. He carefully slipped it from its hook, 
closed the door quietly, and returned to the 
scene of action. No burglar 
could have done better, but, 
in his excitement, he forgot 
to replace that nutmeg 
grater, and its presence 
in his operating-room 
puzzled his housekeeper 
ever after. What on earth 
did he with want such a tool? 
She would never use it again, for there was no 
telling what he had been doing with it; and 
if she had only known that he' was actually 
86 



THE LOST DOLL 


grinding a portion of a body, her disgust would 
have been complete. 

He scraped the arms, legs, toes. In fact, 
wherever he found a blemish on Rosabell, 
the new doll received one in exactly the same 
spot. 

He even found a vaccination mark on the 
arm, which he had put there himself to please 
Alice when he had performed a like opera- 
tion upon her. 

He took his knife and cut the little dimple, 
dabbling it with red ink. Hurrah! the deed 
was done ! 

He arose from his chair and executed a 
Highland fling then and there, with his nude 
audience looking smilingly on. 

He was bubbling over with happiness; and 
now he must dress them. He returned to the 
chair and proceeded to perform this task, 
which he found much more difficult than any- 

87 


THE STORY OF 


thing he had yet attempted. In the first place, 
which doll was which, and which clothes be- 
longed to which? Well, he could tell the 
new doll by the vaccination, as the ink was 
not yet dry; but the clothes he had thrown 
all in a heap — which had he undressed first? 

Oh, yes, he remembered now — he took 
Rosabell first, because he felt better ac- 
quainted with her, so her clothes were under- 
neath. Now it was plain sailing, and at last, 
after much bungling and many sighs, he had 
finished the new one. He pinned a paper 
upon her dress, so that he would not mix 
those babies up again, as he was very partic- 
ular to keep his promise and give Alice her 
own doll. 

When the dolls 
were finished, he set 
them up on a chair, 
and stood off to admire them. They were 
88 




Wherever he found a blemish on Rosabell, the new doll received one in 
exactly the same spot P a g e 8/ 



\ 



THE LOST DOLL 


certainly as like as two peas in a pod. The 
doctor felt very proud of his evening’s work, 
and when he turned out the light and went 
to bed, he was as happy as he had ever been 
in his life. He had solved one of the hardest 
problems that had ever arisen to trouble him. 




CHAPTER IX 

T HE next day each 
doll was taken to 
its rightful owner, and received in a manner 
especially befitting such a joyful occasion. 

To celebrate the event, Alice gave a “tea” 
at once, and her 
three little friends 
of the former un- 
lucky party were 
present. Dear old 
Dinah let them all 
come into the 
kitchen, where each 
made a pie, also some cunning cookies cut 


90 


THE LOST DOLL 


out with a thimble. They dabbled in dough 
to their hearts’ content that day, and while 
these dainties were baking, they set the table. 
This feast was much 
more elaborate than 
the other. 

They had 
brown po- 
tato-balls 
the size of 
hickory- 
nuts, and 
jelly, and 
rich cocoa 
served in 

the dear little cups which belonged to the 
beautiful new tea-set papa bought for this 
special occasion. Sandwiches made of wee 
biscuits, and some very small chicken cro- 
quettes completed the menu. 

91 



THE STORY OF 


When everything was ready, the dolls, 
dressed especially for the occasion, were 
brought out and placed in chairs twined with 
smilax and roses. 

On each tiny napkin was pinned a little 
polyanthus, and if you do not know what 
that is, I will tell you that it is the sweetest 
little doll-baby rose you ever saw. There 
was a tiny vase filled with these same roses 
in the middle of the table, for this was a rose 
party; even the dishes were covered with 
them; and when mama appeared with ice- 
cream in the form of baby roses, their joy 
and surprise were complete. 

It was such a gay party! They chatted 
like a lot of magpies while they ate, and the 
air was filled with the merry sounds of laugh- 
ter. The birds in the trees overhead heard 
the chattering, and twittered and trilled an 
accompaniment, upon which they must have 


92 





The dolls were brought out and placed in chairs twined with smilax and roses 

Page g2 






THE LOST DOLL 


been practising for weeks, so merrily did they 
sing. 

After they had finished this dainty meal, 
they had a fine romp, and then the children 
took their dolls and went home, saying they 
had had “such a lovely time,” and they 
thanked mama very prettily when she pre- 



Alice went to bed with a happy little 
heart, and every one said it had been splen- 
did, and a sharp contrast to the other tea- 
party with its sad ending. 

Poor little Nannie could have no such 
joyful festival, but her little heart was just as 


93 


THE STORY OF 


glad, for was she not improving each day, 
and had not the doctor told her that very 
soon she could go out in the fresh air and 
sunshine, and see the green grass and flow- 
ers and trees? And to a little girl who had 
not been among these things for a long time, 
was not that a treat? 

Is not health better than riches any day? 
And had not she a lovely doll, that was to 
be hers for ever and ever? What more could 
any child want? 

The children who have most of this world’s 
goods are not the happiest, by any means. 
Indeed, they often seem to feel the weight 
of abundance pressing upon them, and it 
keeps them from reaching that state of en- 
joyment which the poor child attains with 
its one little treasure. The statement, “ Blessed 
be nothing,” is true oftener than we know. 

However, little Nannie was about to have 


94 


THE LOST DOLL 


a happiness come into her life of which she 
little dreamed. The good doctor had a fine 
plan for her, and, in order to carry it out, he 
set a trap for Mrs. Gaylord, into which she 
walked without a moment’s hesitation. 

He told her about his little patient, de- 
scribing her wretched home and lack of care, 
and remarked that he wished there was some 
place near-by where she and her father could 
live. Mrs. Gaylord promptly suggested bring- 
ing them there, as the house was so large 
and lonely. They could fix the two back 
adjoining rooms, and she could look after 
the child, and would consider it a pleasure. 

The trap clicked; the mouse was caught; 
his purpose was accomplished. He said he 
was glad she thought of it. That was a fine 
idea, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble. 

“Trouble!” she echoed, “one little child 
is no trouble, and, besides, she would bring 


95 


THE STORY OF 


sunshine enough into the house to more 
than pay for the little trouble she would 
cause.” 

Thus it was settled, and the following 
afternoon the doctor proposed a drive to 
Nannie. She had never taken a drive in all 
her life, and had been shut in for so long that 
she went about getting her hat and coat with 
a joy in her heart too deep for words. 

“You must take your doll,” he called 
back to her from the door. This news, of 
course, increased her delight, and she left the 
room where she had passed so many sad and 
happy hours, little dreaming that she would 
never see it again. 

He lifted her into the carriage, sprang in 
beside her, and away they went, driving into 
the country. How sweet the air was, and 
how all nature seemed to welcome her! The 
flowers held up their heads just for her; how 

96 


THE LOST DOLL 


she longed to tumble about in the meadows 
on that velvet carpet! The birds sang their 
cheeriest songs as they passed along, and her 
own little heart was singing the gladdest song 
of all. 

On the way home the doctor stopped at a 
trunk store and bought a doll’s trunk, to 
Nannie’s great delight. He stopped at Miss 
Buttons’ also, telling Nannie that she must 
come in with him and meet a good friend 
of his. She was a little frightened, but fol- 
lowed him dutifully. They were ushered in- 
to the parlor by the mother, who said she 
would send her daughter in at once. 

“This is Nannie,” said the doctor, as Miss 
Buttons entered the room. “We have been 
to ride, and we stopped to see if you had 
any more clothes ready for her doll.” 

Miss Buttons put her arms about little 
Nannie, and kissed her, saying: “They are 


97 


THE STORY OF 


all ready now.” Then she brought out some 
of the most astonishing little garments. There 
were dresses of all colors, dainty little under- 
clothes, night-dresses, a coat, hats, various 
colored shoes and stockings to match dresses, 
and even a little sunbonnet. Nannie was 
speechless with delight, and while she was 



which Nannie packed herself, and closed and 
locked with a tiny key. 

The doctor put a bill in Miss Buttons’ 
hand, and went out so hastily that she had 
no time to object to the size of it, which was 
really much more than the work was worth. 

98 


THE L O ST DOLL 


They continued their drive and when they 
finally stopped at the doctor’s home, Nannie 
exclaimed joyously: “What a pretty house 
this is! Who lives here?” 

“I do,” said the doctor, “an^ I want you 
to come in with me.” 

Mrs. Gaylord welcomed her, and she and 
the doctor led Nannie up stairs to a beauti- 
ful little room. Clean white matting covered 
the floor, a white and gold bed stood in one 
corner, in another a white dresser with gold 
knobs and a gilt-edged mirror. A washstand 
with a pretty bowl and pitcher, covered with 
flowers, and a little white bookcase, well- 
filled with books and games, completed the 
furniture. 

“What a pretty room this is! Have you a 
little girl that lives in it?” asked Nannie. 

“I haven’t,” said the doctor, “unless you 
will take it and come and be my little girl.” 


99 


THE STORY OF 


She looked about wistfully. “I wish I 
could,” she sighed, “it is lovely; but I couldn’t 
live here, you know, ’cause I couldn’t leave 
my papa.” 

“Dear lamb,” he said, “always loyal to 
your papa ! But what if he comes here also ? ” 
She looked up with a quick, glad cry: 
“Would you let him? He’s real good now; 
do you think you could trust him?” - 

“That is what we have decided to do,” 
said the doctor, as he took her into the next 
room, which was neatly and appropriately 
furnished, and there she found her papa. 
She threw herself into his arms, crying: “Oh, 
papa, aren’t they lovely? They want us, and 
it is all so beautiful, and I am so glad!” 

So were they all glad, but it was many 
days before the child could realize the hap- 
piness that had come into her sad little life. 
She played about, while her papa weeded 


IOO 


THE LOST DOLL 


the garden, she went to ride with the doc- 
tor and did many other delightful things. 
She even had a lot of chickens, and what 
fun it was to gather the eggs! One day when 
the baby chickens came, her cup of joy was 
full. This outdoor life soon brought health 
to her weak body, and roses into her cheeks. 

The doctor often took her to Miss But- 
tons, who made her some pretty little gowns, 
and during these frequent visits, they became 
very well acquainted. Miss Buttons grew 
very fond of the child, and, incidentally, of 
the doctor; of this, however, she was, as yet, 
unconscious. She worked on the dainty 
dresses with a light heart, for, since making 
the doctor’s acquaintance, life looked much 
brighter to her. 


OI 



CHAPTER X 

O NE day the doctor bought two beauti- 
ful doll -carriages just alike, one for 
Alice, and the other for Nannie. As it hap- 
pened, both children were seized with an im- 
pulse to take their dolls out for an airing at 
the same moment. It also happened that each 
wended her way toward a certain little park 
which they entered from opposite directions. 
As Nannie passed slowly through the wind- 


102 


THE LOST DOLL 


ing walks, she saw approaching her a little 
girl with a doll-carriage exactly like the one 
she was pushing, and in it was seated a doll, 
the counterpart of her own treasure. 

She was so busy looking at the doll, she 
failed to notice that the child who was wheel- 
ing the carriage was returning her glances 
with equal surprise and interest. 

When they were finally side by side, they 
both paused, and each child cried excitedly: 
“Take her out and let me see her!” 

When the dolls were out of the carriages, 
Alice exclaimed (for Alice it was, of course) : 
“Come, let’s sit down,” — and they tripped 
over to a bench under the trees and pro- 
ceeded to examine the dolls with the liveliest 
interest. After they had finished, they 
chorused: “They are exactly alike!” 

Then suddenly realizing how funny this 
was, they began to laugh, and when they 
103 


THE STORY OF 


had laughed until they could laugh no 
longer, Alice said: “This is too funny, and I 
thought there wasn’t another doll like mine 
in all the world. Where did you get yours?” 

Nannie told the story of her rag doll, her 
sickness and how her dog brought this doll 
to her. Alice listened, growing more sur- 
prised every moment. When Nannie paused, 
and she found that she had heard all, she 
related her side of the story; how her doll 
was stolen, how it made her sick, and how 
the doctor had found it. 

“What was his name?” asked Nannie. 

“Doctor McDowell,” said Alice. “He’s 
a dear old Scotchman.” 

Nannie jumped up and danced about 
shouting: “The very one! he did it; don’t 
you see? He found yours at my house, and 
he hated to take it from me, so he bought 
you a new one.” 

104 



c c 


They are exactly alike 


99 


Page IOJ 





THE LOST DOLL 


Alice’s face grew serious; could it be that 
she didn’t have her beloved Rosabell, after 
all? She would find out at once. She took 
her in her lap, and, raising her sleeve, gazed 
eagerly at her arm. Yes, it was Rosabell; 
for there was the mark where the doctor 
had vaccinated her, and she triumphantly 
showed it to Nannie. 

Nannie immediately pulled up her doll’s 
sleeve and proudly displayed a vaccination 
mark also, whereat Alice exclaimed: “But 
mine is different. See! when he did it I put 
down her sleeve before it was dry and it 
rubbed a little. Yours isn’t that way!” 

Oh, Doctor McDowell, with your keen 
old eyes, you failed to discover that! It is 
the old sweet song of mother-love which 
will be sung for ever and ever. The true 
mother always knows her own child in spite 
of everything! 

i°5 


THE STORY OF 


After settling this subject satisfactorily, 
they found out each other’s name, and then 
asked numerous questions. “Did he get you 
lots of clothes of different colors, and a trunk, 
and did he buy that doll-carriage for you?” 

They were having a fine chat, and Nannie 
was about to tell how the doctor had taken 

her to live with 
him, when, speak- 
ing of angels, the 
doctor himself 
suddenly ap- 
peared on the 
scene. He was 
walking briskly, 
looking this 
way and that, as if 
searching for some 
one. His eyes lighted on Nannie, and then 
he caught sight of Alice. 

io 6 



THE LOST DOLL 


“The dickens!” he exclaimed in dis- 
may, “how did you two chipmunks happen 
to find each other?” 

He appeared so frightened that the chil- 
dren began to shout. Greatly relieved, he 
joined in, and the park rang with their 
merry laughter. 

“Well, I see you know it all!” he finally 
managed to say, “and all I can do is to ask 
you to forgive me.” 

“Forgive you!” they cried reproachfully, 
and they ran to him and assured him he was 
the best man that ever lived, and that they 
loved him dearly and had nothing to forgive. 

Then they started for home, the children 
promising to visit each other soon, and an- 
ticipating many happy times together. 

And this is the end. But if you want to 
hear about the doctor’s romance, I will add 
that he did marry Miss Buttons, and Alice 
107 


THE STORY OF 


and Nannie made the sweetest little brides- 
maids, and the dolls, dressed in white satin, 
with long trains and pearl bead trimmings,- 
occupied the seats of honor at the bride’s 
table; for were they not responsible for the 
woes and joys that had of late crept into all 
these lives? 

And Jack, noble fellow! we must not for- 
get him a moment. He was the hero of the 
hour, for when the minister in solemn tones 
said: “If any among you have aught to say 
why these two should not be joined in the 
holy bonds of wedlock, speak now, or for 
ever after hold your peace,” during the pause 
which followed, Jack distinguished himself 
by uttering two short, quick barks, as he had 
been taught to do when any one said “ Speak ! ” 
Even the frightened bridegroom smiled at 
this comical interruption. 

After the doctor and Miss Buttons had 
108 


THE LOST DOLL 


promised to be faithful until death, and the 
wedding supper was over, the happy pair 
were driven away, amid showers of rice and 
old shoes, for a short bridal trip, leaving the 
children with the promise that, when they 
returned, Alice and Nannie and the wonder- 
ful dolls should have many happy times with 
them in the home nest where they expected 
to live happy for ever and ever. 










































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